Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
IT IS a battle that rages between one's faith and their career. While some persons are willing to take a stance and ensure that their careers always reflect their religious beliefs, others quickly point out they are two separate paths that should not cross.
Ricky Trooper, a top dancehall selector, says he tries to prevent his religion and career from ever getting intertwined. However he declares; "Mi tek God serious, before mi play ah dance, mi always pray."
The disc-jockey went on to say however that he cannot allow this belief to hinder his performance as a selector. "It nuh stop mi from play certain songs because mi is a selector and mi ah play fi please a wide cross- section of people, so even if some song ah go against your belief, yuh affi give it to the people if dem want it," reasoned Trooper.
He continued: "Is a show you ah put on, is an act so as much as you nuh like it yuh affi give the people dem what dem want to hear, what's current or else you a go flop."
On the contrary, Trooper's views were rebutted by one of dancehall's latest record spinning prodigies, the duo Raz and Biggie. "Yes I believe in God and if there is a song that is totally against what God is all about I will not play it," emphasised Raz.
The other half of the duo, Biggie, pointed out that while they are not saying that they play a strict diet of Christian music in the dancehall, at all times they try to give praise to God when 'spinning'. Biggie further explained that he will never put getting a 'forward' over his beliefs, so even if a song is 'tha bomb', as long as it denounces his faith, he has nothing to do with it.
"I wouldn't play nutten that is licking out against Christ or the church, if it is any form of anti-Christ music, mi nah go play that," firmly reasoned Biggie.
Contrary to the thoughts dispelled by Raz and Biggie, Steven 'Lenky' Marsden, producer and musician responsible for the hit dancehall rhythm Diwali, agreed with the arguments put forward by selector Trooper. "Mi nah go put the music ting and religion together, ah two different ting," argued Marsden.
Marsden stated on the other hand that he does have other beliefs that are not necessarily associated with religion that will influence the songs that he produces.
Renowned Jamaican actor Volier 'Maffy' Johnson told The Sunday Gleaner that his conviction in Christianity will not hinder him while he is on-stage. "Well I believe deeply in God but it wouldn't trouble my work on-stage," stated Mr. Johnson. He reasoned that if he opts to portray a negative role on-stage, it is not because he advocates its negativity but it is about sending a message to the society.
Volier, while originally stating that he is not hindered by his religion, eventually said that there is one thing that he does not like to do while on-stage. He does not like to use the Lord's name in vain.
Known for his signature introduction, 'True, true, true', singer/deejay Wayne Marshall in voicing his opinion was in agreement with selectors Raz and Biggie. His beliefs in the Almighty "...puts a kind of limit on what I sing and a meter on what I say."
Wayne recalled that there have been instances in his career where he turned down songs that were offered to him. Reason being, it discredited his moral values and his belief in God, especially the fact that he believes that everyone is going to be judged one day for their actions.
This is a stance he says that he will not try to force his colleagues in the entertainment industry to take. "Every man is a man and it is ultimately up to them, they know enough about the world to make that judgement." "Who am I to judge?"
